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Packers Moving Bryan Bulaga, Josh Sitton to the Left Side

At the NFL owners meetings in March, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy made it abundantly clear that the play from his offensive line in 2012—especially on the left side—wasn't good enough.

Just a few days into May, and McCarthy is already making the changes he feels will spawn the improvement he's looking for come September.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, McCarthy will move Bryan Bulaga from right to left tackle, and Josh Sitton from right to left guard. T.J. Lang will slot in as the right guard, with right tackle up for grabs between Marshall Newhouse, Don Barclay and Derek Sherrod, if healthy.

"I sat down with Bryan and Josh on Monday and I told them I wanted to make the move to where they're on the left side," McCarthy told Silverstein. "Those two are our most accomplished and experienced players. I told them about the responsibilities and my expectations about playing the left side."

McCarthy hinted at such a move while in Arizona for the annual owners meetings.

“We need some improvement from the left side of our line," McCarthy said. "Our left side and the center position, we need improvement there. We need to get the left side to play better.”

Bulaga, a 2010 first-round pick, has made 33 career NFL starts, all on the right side. He played left tackle at the University of Iowa, but found his way into the starting lineup at right tackle when Mark Tauscher went down with a season-ending injury in 2010. Bulaga made 12 starts there his rookie season, and four more in the postseason, and has stuck on the right side ever since.

While Bulaga has steadied right tackle, mediocre play on the left side has plagued the Packers since losing Chad Clifton in 2011.

A fifth-round pick in 2010, Newhouse has started the last 29 regular-season games for the Packers at left tackle, with varied results. In 2011, Newhouse allowed 59 total quarterback disruptions and graded out as NFL's worth tackle at Pro Football Focus. He improved slightly in 2012, but still ranked 54th out of 80 eligible tackles after allowing 46 more disruptions.

Newhouse will now get a chance to play on the right side, although Barclay, a 2012 undrafted free agent, and Sherrod, who McCarthy expressed optimism for following the draft, will get an equal shot to win the job opposite Bulaga.

Shifting Sitton—a Pro Bowler at right guard—is likely a product of keeping the blindside of Aaron Rodgers, the Packers new $110 million quarterback, better protected in 2013 and beyond. Sitton has graded out as one of the best pass-blocking guards in football in each of the last three seasons, while Lang took a step back in 2012 while fighting through various arm injuries.

After researching the idea, McCarthy said he liked Sitton better on the left side. Lang, more of a power guard, might be better served on the offense's strong side. He also noted that positional decisions on David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter will come following the Packers rookie mini camp next week.

At the very least, McCarthy is taking a radical approach to accomplishing the guarantee he made for the offensive line in 2013.

"We will be a better offensive line next year," McCarthy said. "You can write that down."

Time will tell whether better is the right word. But different appears to be a certainty.

Zach Kruse is a 24-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covers prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at zachkruse2@gmail.com.

It seems that the Packers fans that have been screaming the loudest are getting their wishes granted. All I heard up to the draft was we need Lacy, Lacy, Lacy. And we need Bulaga on the left side, over and over. This is very strange for the Packers, and it kind of makes me nervous.

2. I think we might be seeing a lot less shotgun than we have the last couple of seasons...
a) legit rb's to put behind 12 as opposed to right next to him.
b) allows rb's a full head of steam as opposed to being handed the ball while standing still.
c) in shotgun there isn't as much of a "blindside". with a direct snap there certainly is - thus the need to solidify 12's backside.
d) not as obvious that the play will be a pass - slow down the pass rush... plus 12's always been $ with playaction (which calls for more time from the line)

3. I have never heard of a team completely flip-flopping their line. not saying it won't work... just can't ever remember it happening.

4. When's Bulaga's contract up? cuz if he performs, he's about to get PAID.

Totally agree with your thoughts. Last year, teams just sat back and dared us to run. And when we did, it was with minimal results. Add to the fact that opposing teams were constantly rushing at Rodgers, which resulted in the high sack/hit numbers. And I thought our RBs struggled at times with blitz pickups. Having Rodgers get the ball from under center will hopefully reduce the number of blitzes we see each game and open up more options for us on offense. I'm excited to see how Bulaga and Sitton do on the left side! What helps is MM is doing this early in the offseason so they have plenty of time to work on their footwork and technique.

I agree. I would like to see less shotgun, I just don't see them doing it.
Although they have got 2 high round RB's now and they are moving the line around so who knows.
All I know is that if this offense finally has a rushing threat, its going to be very hard to stop.
Play action could actually become a part of the offense again...

Does the running back run slower to the line of scrimmage with the ball in his arms? He's going the same speed by the time he gets to the line of scrimmage whether he gets the ball on the run or standing still.

No matter which side Bulaga plays on he's about to get paid. So what? Anything is better than watching Newhouse suck on the left side. This move could have been made a year ago and nobody would have have blinked.

Agree. For whatever reason, Bulaga wasn't terribly effective pass blocking last year. Rookie draft picks or no, the pass has to be the Pack's bread and butter because Rodgers is their best player. Bulaga's gotta be more effective pass blocking

One bad game as opposed to a bad season I will take. Bulaga played poor in seatle and it took the final play for us to lose. Only the great LT's don't have bad games. I think Bulaga should have been LT last year. Makes sense to move sitton with him cause they play so well together. These guys are pros they will be able to handle the switch. Plus it is may not aug making this move.

i think what it means is that the Man needs protection from the blindside, and drafting in the position that the packers usually draft in...near the very end of the round...means that the elite left tackles arent available. with bulaga being the best we have and he and sitton working together on one side, it may benefit the packers greatly to move them to the left side, and get some road graders for the right side. a lot of things may have changed with the packer offense after this last draft... getting some backs that can tote the ball and getting an offensive line that can push the pile might mean that we are going to push the pile a lot more than usual. if these new backs can get the defenses off that cover two defense, and the line can block for the run, rogers can have a field day. i like your thoughts with this.

The RT position will likely be better than last year, since Bulaga really didn't even play (or played poorly when he did), with Barclay getting more experience and strength...or if Sherrod or Newhouse beat out the (expected) better Barclay.

At RG, I would expect Lang to be solid, but not great...at the very least.

I like the prospects of the move...mostly due to Bulaga going to LT, and the expectation we have multiple choices that are better fits at RT.

Even if it does still suck at least Rodgers will (should) be able to see it coming and take appropriate action. It won't be coming from his blindside. Hell, maybe he'll even dump the ball off to a running back.

This move makes total sense to me, let's just hope Bulaga is healthy (or will be). I like the competition they drafted as well. Imagine how good ARod could be if he didn't have to scramble around for his life back there. He can't get sacked 50+ times again, or he won't make it through his contract.

His hip was never a threat to his career or anything. Just a broken bone (crack) of the hip bone (Pelvis). Bones heal themselves pretty easily. Not like he also had a dislocation like Bo Jackson that ruined the integrity of the joint.

Can't hurt to try something new.
Now what about ditching the zone blocking scheme? Instead of having a running back always guessing where the hole might be, how about we man up and push some guys out of the way.

The problem isn't the zone blocking per se. The #1 rushing team last year used zone blocking (Washington). Houston has been one of the best run teams in years and uses zone blocking.

The problem is that there's nobody on the coaching staff that knows how to properly teach it.

The Packers don't exactly have the personel to power block either.

However, right now, with Lacy and Franklin, the Packers have gotten 2 very good one cut backs to make the ZBS better. None of them are particularly great at finding holes, but that's teachable and they make up for it with other qualities.

With Lacy, they have a punishing back that will wear defenses down, and with Franklyn, they finally have a decent screen threat.

I wouldn't expect a great rushing team, because our OL isn't great at runblocking. But with good backs that complement each other as well as what the offense's strenghts are, it'll go a long way towards balance.

I really expect one of the best offenses in Packers' history, if both can stay healthy.

There's finally someone to win on short yardage and wear down defenses, and there's finally someone to make defenses pay when they sell out to the pass.

Even with as good an offense as hey have they know they need to get better and the areas that need to do better (line - backs) and welcome changing things, that is so encouraging for the fan base. To go a step further, I still believe Lang is their best option at center long term (McCarthy last week indicated he can play center), if (BIG IF) Sherrod is healthy he could take over at RT and they could move Barclay to guard, that would be their best offensive line in years.

I eff'n knew it (minus the Sitton move)!!! Now,if Barclay can improve his pass pro this move will be awesome! The Pack will now be able to run to either side. Last year's strong side was obviously on the right with Sitton + Bulaga (then Barclay). This season's potential pair (Lang + Barclay) will clearly be a better tandem than Newhouse + Lang of last season. O-Line Coaches: Do your jobs! Players: Bring your A-games! I love this move.

Bulaga graded out as below average in PFF rankings at RT last year. I know he may have been playing hurt, but I worry that this is more of a side-step than true upgrade at the more demanding LT position.

That said, I think we can all agree that Newhouse was not the answer at LT and I welcome this change since I don't know that we have any better options.

That is what for me has to now be in the back of everyone's mind. Yes people have one bad game and that is used to downgrade someone , and that is usually unfair but this is different. He was so over matched that game it was shocking, Can not even think of any time I saw someone beat so bad,it was embarassing.. Cant sugar coat that. Has to always make you wonder.

At the same time LT is obviously a position he is confortable with and if they move Lang to center and evryone else is healthy !! And if Barclay and the picks are real !!!!

Bulaga had all of training camp to be ready for the season. Yet Bulaga didn't play well from the beginning of the season. Got better after he blew up against Seattle, but he had no excuse for his poor play from the beginning of the season!

I sure like Beluga a lot and hope he has recovered from that hip injury. Those can be nasty and recurring.
You may recall Bo Jackson's career was cut short by a hip disease caused by an infection from a hip fracture, so its not something to blow off.
I don't think the staff has a lot of faith in Sherrod and Newhouse. Both will probably find a lot of time on the bench playing fill in roles. Or cut. Especially Sherrod whom the Packers expected back last year for part of the season. If he shows up terribly out of shape, I think he is toast. They move on.

Bulaga and Bo Jackson have completely different hip injuries! Bulaga has a broken bone but the joint integrity is fine and had no damage. Crack in bone just has to heal itself.

Bo Jackson had a hip dislocation. So the ball of the Femur (thigh bone) came out of the socket in the hip bone. When that happens the structural integrity of the hip is compromised. So the tendons and connective tissue that held the ball of the thigh bone in the hip socket was ruined. And I think Bo also had a broken bone, that needed to be replaced. Bo had to get a hip replacement surgery. Bulaga was never near that severity and didn't have the integrity of the joint compromised.

I think Bulaga is just a stop-gap for now. I just don't see him as a LT. He wasn't really a good RT either. I liked Barclay better, so I think this is also a move to play the better RT there. I know he is inexperienced, but he displayed more power in the run game than Bulaga, and I also think over time he'll be a better pass protector. What I hope is that Sherrod will be healthy sometime this season and take over at LT. Moving Sitton to the left probably is a good move, but may also be done to help Bulaga. Oh well, what do I know? We will all see come September. I really like that there will be a lot of competition, though.

I was adamantly against the thought of moving Bulaga to the LT spot from the beginning.The thought of moving Sitton over as well NEVER entered the thought process but moving both is a solid move but I won't call a check mate just yet,but a check has been called in this chess game.

If this allows our (hoped for expected)run game to become an actual factor,then the right side will need to procure a dominant duo and Barclay IMO, would likely be half of it right now.

Is it possible to see an early season Tretter,Bahktiari and Barclay from center over on the right side with EDS,Lang and Newhouse/Sherrod fighting to not become backups,cut or traded?

FWIW, I think Lang is at least the 3rd best OL on team. I like the reshuffle and think the competition at RT will be interesting; I also like Barclay as favorite there. Thought of moving Lang to C crossed my mind after we lost Wells...regardless, Lang is a keeper at either G and C would be icing. ED'S is at least serviceable @C.

Langs a monster @ guard, Barclay is a mauler &amp; a much better run blocker than pass blocker. Barclay or the Ivy leaguer Van Roten for Center, Lang @ RG, Sherrod, Bakhtiari, and Newhouse battle it out to the death for the RT spot... since we're all making a Christmas list.

Oh, well among the 4, Sherrod is probably the most talented offensive tackle. I'm crossing all my fingers that he's healthy and ready to go for training camp. After him, I really have no strong feelings.

Cow42,
I think you are right. The draft picks this year will provide significant depth and competition but I also think Barclay may be the reason. Now he did show up for off-season workouts pretty heavy, but maybe it's just water weight!

I doubt he'll disappear. He'll likely be in the running for a backup T spot and if he shines in camp, could steal a spot on the starting line. The key for him is how well he's healed up. He spoke last year a lot about not trusting his shoulder mentally even though he was physically cleared. Either way, he's a good "problem" to have.

Might have something to do with the fact that it improves the physicality of the line (or at least creates that perception). Additionally, it potentially shores up what should be the most important part of the line -- the part that protects Rodgers' blind side -- with our two best linemen (provided Bulaga's healthy).

They talk a lot about continuity on the line, and I think that, coupled with what you said about hoping Newhouse would make a jump, were both factors. Also, I think the fact that Datko and Sherrod weren't as far along as they'd hoped in recovering from injuries made them less comfortable with their depth last season.

This further solidifies the fact that they want to run the ball, and not just to the right side. They must have looked at the tape on Newhouse and thrown their hands up when it came to running plays. I'd say the guys that are the most aggressive on the right side are going to be the guys that get the job. Barclay would seem to have the inside track at RT right now, but it really seems like it will be a VERY open competition at RT and C.

Camp is going to be full of great questions:
Can Sherrod block?
Is Datko a dark horse if healthy?
Can Bakhtiari make a push to play?
Will Newhouse get fired up and keep a job?
Will EDS, Van Roten, or Tretter step up as a quality C, or will someone else have to switch(Lang)?
Can a T-Rex play LT?
Does any of this matter with Campen as coach?

Both articles clearly show (first one is behind paywall) that the LT position is overvalued in the NFL, that the latests SB champions haven't had elite LTs, and that QBs don't throw primarily to their right, instead spreading the ball around even.

So, backside is relative, enough not to warrant an extra focus on the left side.

But, as I've said, it would take a proper study on Rodgers' preferred throwing/escaping side to make a proper account whether to move Bulaga and Sitton to the left side or not.

At first glance I would say it's not worth it, but McCarthy has said a lot was taken into account, so I'm left with no choice but to root for it.

Change in personnel = change in tactics
Agree with point made about less shotgun. Solid on te left, fierce competition on the right. I'll be surprised if ED'S keeps his starting spot. Lacy and Framklin are obvious catalysts but IMO the sleeper is Charles Johnson who ran a sub 4.4, if he can catch the ball 3rd and short is going to be a lot more fun than last year

Risk adversion can be a good thing...turnovers obviously are more negative plays than sacks. Although I love QB1's decision making, I'm confident he'll get better; would love to see completion % increase (receiver cooperation needed too). I'm really excited about the RB's.

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